Lukas was utterly exhausted, unable to do anything. He stayed close to the coop now. Robert's knife was still with him. While examining it, he noticed an inscription: "Dark Miracle." It felt as if the knife had been written for him, yet something was missing—Lukas had not reached the miracle.
He had intended to throw the knife away, but now he decided he wouldn't. He would carry it with him forever.
His days passed hungry and penniless. Occasionally, he sneaked into the coop to get food and water. Without them, he couldn't survive here. His beard had grown past his chin, making him almost unrecognizable. His hair hung down to his neck. All this time, he had only thought about his son. Who knew how long the punishment would last…
Tomorrow, Lukas planned to go to the prison where his son was. But if anyone recognized him, they would send him back to the hospital.
Today, driven by hunger, he once again headed toward the coop. Alex, who had noticed that something was missing, happened to meet him when he stepped outside.
Alex: "Ah, Lukas! How did you get out, brother?"
Lukas: "I wish there were no men like you!"
He picked up a piece of stone from the ground, slashed his own wrist, and threw his blood onto Alex's face, saying:
"Our brotherhood is over!"
Alex, confused, asked:
Alex: "What happened? Why are you saying this? Are you okay?"
Lukas: "You with my wife…"
The shame on Alex and Emma's faces rendered them silent. Lukas then stepped inside the coop:
"I'm the one who took your food and money… and I'm still taking it!"
He began putting everything he could find into a bag.
Emma, panicked, said:
Emma: "Lukas, that's not true!"
But Lukas ignored her and handed her a napkin from his pocket:
"I wrote this for you. Take it and read…"
On the napkin:
Do the lights shine,
Does the day break, I do not know,
But my heart has long been closed to you
— Emma
⸻
Reading this, Emma had never seen Lukas like this before. Lukas, who had loved his wife unconditionally for years, truly did not love her this time…
Lukas' final words to Emma were:
"Let's never see each other again."
And he quietly walked away.
Would the buried flower ever see the light of day?
Lukas had changed so much that recognizing him required caution. He went into the city and found out where the youth prison where Jake was held. With the money he had gotten from Alex, he bought some food, clothes, and a wig. He had been wearing the same clothes for five months, even growing used to their smell. Wearing the new clothes, he felt different.
Everywhere in the city, Lukas' photo was posted with the label: "Crazy Fugitive Wanted"… yet Lukas was not insane.
He arrived near the prison where his son was but could not enter. He returned the same way he came. He thought about kidnapping his son but then gave up. Running away would get them nowhere, himself included.
He was completely fed up with life. He realized that the writings on the napkins he carried in his pocket would not help either.
"At least I'll take this knife to the antique shop," he thought.
When he entered the antique shop, everything seemed wonderful to Lukas. The shop was small but full of warmth. At least here, they weren't living as fugitives. Lukas drifted into his thoughts…
Antique Shop Owner: "Welcome, sir. What were you looking at?"
Lukas: "Ah, pardon… um… How much is this knife?"
The antique dealer's eyes seemed to flutter with butterflies. He stammered with excitement:
Antique Dealer: "This is a very valuable knife! I'll give you $10,000 for it, sir."
He grabbed the knife and began examining it.
This time, Lukas' conscience wouldn't allow it. After everything, he couldn't do that.
Lukas: "I've changed my mind, sir… Can I take it?"
Antique Dealer: "Ah! Yes, you know what you're doing… Wait, my friend, I'll give you $20,000! How about that?"
Lukas took the knife from him and said:
"This has an owner."
Then he left the shop.
He started heading toward the hospital he had fled from. As he got close, a police officer noticed him.
Police Officer: "Hey! Crazy fugitive! Turn around, or I'll shoot you in the head without mercy!"
Lukas raised his hands:
"I'm just a fugitive! I'm not crazy! Stop treating me like this!"
He turned to face the officer.
The police arrested Lukas and took him back to the hospital. Unfortunately, the knife was also confiscated.
This time, he would not share a room with Robert. Lukas was given a room on the highest floor—all to himself.
After Lukas was taken, Robert was restrained.
"I want my knife!" he screamed in rage.
⸻
Two weeks later…
Today it would be decided whether Lukas would stay in the hospital. They had made their final decision.
Heading to the hearing, Lukas was confident. Even if he occasionally had hallucinations, no one could call him insane.
Entering the elevator, he saw Robert. His mouth and arms were bound, and his eyes seemed to burn with fire.
The terrifying sight unsettled Lukas. He turned his eyes away.
"I guess I drove him crazy…" he thought.
⸻
The Hearing…
The judge, the prosecutor, and the expert physician—everyone was present. Lukas had no lawyer to defend him.
Buttoning the top of his shirt, Lukas entered confidently, surprising everyone.
The orphaned Lukas didn't even have a single witness.
With the judge's permission, the expert physician began speaking:
"We will begin the hearing for Lukas Black in one minute. Witnesses, please stand."
Lukas chuckled to himself.
Judge: "Why are you laughing?"
Lukas: "I have no witnesses, sir. That's why."
Judge: "Look behind you."
Lukas turned and saw Abel. Unable to resist, he jumped from the hearing table and hugged Abel's neck:
"Because of a momentary hallucination, I was treated like a madman, and it's your fault!"
Just as he was about to strike him in the face, security neutralized Lukas with a stun device.
Judge: "Abel, what is this man saying?"
Abel trembled:
"It's true… it's a lie, sir… He's crazy… he's lying," he stammered.
Abel was twisting his words. Even Jake never imagined Abel would do such a thing, because he wasn't that kind of person.
Had something triggered him?
A few minutes later, Lukas regained consciousness.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he searched for Abel with fiery eyes.
But Abel had left the room. For a moment, Lukas thought he had imagined him.
Yet through the door crack, Abel was standing aside, speaking with the judge and prosecutor.
Abel: "As I explained, Your Honor."
Judge: "Okay. Now don't enter; the atmosphere will tense up."
The judge, expert physician, and everyone returned to their places.
Lukas also took his seat, and the hearing resumed.
Before the expert physician could even start, Lukas immediately spoke:
"Excuse me, Doctor. I want to first report the person who secretly had my witness and sent me here under false pretenses."
The expert physician froze, unable to respond; this was not his concern.
Judge: "I will not prolong this, Lukas Black. It has been proven that you are not insane. You will continue to serve the remaining two years in the prison you previously stayed in."
He slammed his hand on the table:
"The hearing is adjourned."
Lukas already knew he was not insane. But he would return to the same old prison—and, as always, pull Frank's ear.
"I hope he's gone from there…"